Osun imposes curfew, as residents flee communal clash

Many residents of Ilobu and Erin-Osun towns in Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State have fled their towns as the communal clash between the two towns aggravated on Saturday.

Daily Trust gathered that the two communities started fighting on Saturday over a land tussle.

• What bandits commanders told me in Zamfara forests Sheikh Gumi
• Top bandits commander, Buharin Daji, to lay down arms soon Matawalle

The clash on Saturday is the second between both communities over the ownership of the land at Ayedande area.

A community leader in the area said the traditional rulers of the two towns had an altercation on the phone over the land on Saturday.

Consequently, some youths from the two towns started fighting and shooting at each other.

One person was killed and several others sustained gunshot wounds.

The Police Public Relations Officer for Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, said two persons, Azeez Adamu and Abdulahi Tairu who are indigenes of Ilobu were shot in the leg.

The police spokesperson said the victims were rushed to hospital for treatment.

The State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola ordered the immediate deployment of soldiers to assist the police to restore law and order in the troubled area.

Oyetola through the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor,  Ismail Omipidan said, “As government, we are resolved to do everything possible to protect citizens from actual and potential threats. To this end, we have ordered immediate deployment of security operatives to restore law and order.

“I want to appeal to our people not to destroy our collective heritage by taking laws into their own hands. Two wrongs don’t make a right. I, therefore, appeal to the warring parties to sheath their sword and allow peace to reign,” the governor added.

Meanwhile, State Government has declared a 24-hour curfew in Irepodun and Orolu Local Government Areas of the State, following the violence that broke out between Ilobu and Erin-Osun communities.

The Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji said the declaration of curfew became necessary to douse tension in the troubled area and that the curfew would subsist until further notice.